ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 12, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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LETTER OF THEIR FATHER WHICH THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN
Molla Mustafa Barzani, the father of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani, sent a letter to Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel in 1968 in which he praised Turkey and expressed their loyalty. Molla Mustafa Barzani said in his letter, ''our people are living under very bad living conditions and even the smallest existence of our people is being threatened. In this case, we can't find any other remedy than asking you, your government and Turkish people to help their Muslim Kurdish brothers.'' Barzani noted that this assistance could be extended by trying to press on Iraqi regime to stop war which could annihilate them or giving morale and aid to their people who were face to face with diseases, education impossibilities and poverty. Barzani also sent a letter to Cevdet Sunay, the President of Turkey then. In this letter, Barzani said that Turks and Kurds had lived together during history, connected to each other with Islam, and united their blood against enemies.
THEY CHANGE NAME AGAIN
The terrorist organization PKK/KADEK announced that it had terminated itself for a new formation immediately after the clash with U.S. soldiers in north of Iraq. The organization is said to change its name as ''Kurdistan People's Congress (KHK).'' Ankara commented on this development as ''there is nothing to be taken seriously.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL REPROACHES EU FOR HEADSCARF
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul drew attention to the fact that headscarf ban was not criticized in the European Union's (EU) progress report for Turkey and said, ''EU took a photograph but this photograph is incomplete.'' Gul, who earlier commented that the progress report was ''objective, thinks that there was an important ''deficiency'' in the ''minuses'' part of the report. Gul expressed uneasiness over non-inclusion of headscarf ban in the list of democracy and human rights problems in Turkey. Gul said, ''ignoring headscarf freedom in the report is a misfortune. If EU loses its neutrality, then it can be in a position to act as the advocate of a certain circle.''
IMAGINARY KURDISH STATE
Hasan Cemal, one of journalists of Milliyet daily, met with Massoud Barzani, the leader of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP), in north of Iraq. Barzani said, ''Kirkuk is a part of Kurdistan and it will be so. All Iraqi Kurdistan will be a part of federation as a whole. We are face to face with an administrative federation.'' Barzani, one of the members of Iraqi Interim Governing Council, said, ''the U.S. could not transfer administration to the Iraqis at the right time and they became invaders although they were saviors.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SURPRISE PROPOSAL
Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan met with Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan and submitted a payment plan for 5.5 billion U.S. dollars of debt. Cem Uzan, who was not involved in Uzan Group cases since he did not have any legal connection, visited some members of the government for the Uzan Group. Cem Uzan met with Cicek and Unakitan. In the meeting, Uzan asked for return of CEAS and Kepez for repayment of 5.5 billion U.S. dollars of deposit debt (equal to 8.5 quadrillion Turkish liras) of the Imar Bankasi. But, the two ministers said that legal process had started and there was nothing to do. Unakitan commented on his meeting with Uzan as saying, ''we can meet with everybody.''
LOW BID CAUSES CANCELLATION
The government cancelled the second big privatization initiative following the privatization of Petrochemistry Holding (PETKIM). Privatization Administration Board, which received bids for privatization of cigarette enterprises of state-run Tobacco and Liquor Administration (TEKEL) below expectations, cancelled the tender. The highest bid was 1 billion 150 million U.S. dollars. Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan once more met with officials of Japanese JTI company who submitted the highest bid for the tender. As the Japanese company did not want to revise the bid saying that their bid was realistic and investments and technology transfer should also be taken into consideration, the tender was cancelled.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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STORM SPLITS SHIP INTO TWO
Severe weather conditions paralyze daily life and traffic across the country. Georgian-flagged cargo ship which ran aground on Monday night on Istanbul Strait split into two due to severe weather conditions. Crew members of the ship were rescued with hawsers on Tuesday. Teams failed to exert efforts to stop pollution caused by the ship due to storm in Istanbul. A Cambodian-flagged cargo ship sank after it had set sail from Istanbul Strait to the Black Sea. Fourteen crew members of the ship, including five Turks, were rescued.
''WE DON'T WANT SOMETHING IMPOSSIBLE''
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that they did not want something impossible from Turkey. Verheugen, who came to Rome for Turkey-EU Troika meeting, replied to questions of Cumhuriyet. Reiterating the support of the Commission to reform process in Turkey, Verheugen did not make any commitment on decision that the EU had to take for starting negotiations with Turkey next year. Verheugen said that Turkey should first fulfil all conditions and stated that after Turkey met political conditions at legal level and in implementation, its membership would be discussed in the EU public opinion.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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AK PARTY RECEDES FROM A ROW IN EDUCATION
The government took into consideration President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's reasons for vetoing the project that ensured poor students to study in private schools and cancelled the project. As the draft law on sale of schools and fields belonging to the National Education Ministry was being discussed in the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission, a deputy of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) submitted a motion for taking out the article that ensured poor students to study in private schools. The ruling party decided to take into consideration Sezer's reasons for veto this time and accepted the motion. Sezer had stated that the project meant transferring one of main duties of the state to private education institutions.
GUL GIVES AND TAKES HOPE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in Turkey-European Union (EU) Troika meeting, ''I am hopeful for a solution on Cyprus till May 2004. We will fulfil our responsibilities.'' According to European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen, ''Turkey is gradually getting closer to targets.'' Gul and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana were very sincere.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TENDER ON PRIVATIZATION OF CIGARETTE ENTERPRISES OF TEKEL CANCELLED
The tender regarding the sale of cigarette enterprises of state-run Tobacco and Liquor Administration (TEKEL) has been cancelled. Privatization Administration said that Tender Commission evaluated the offers on November 5, 2003 and it had decided to cancel the tender. The first signals of cancellation of the tender appeared after the meeting between Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan and representatives of the Japanese Tobacco International (JTI). Unakitan said that they did not want a revised bid from JTI company which was one of two companies which offered the bid in the tender.
INTERIOR MINISTRY'S CIRCULAR FOR WINTER
Interior Ministry sent circulars to governor's office of 81 provinces and wanted governors to take measures for traffic security for severe winter conditions. The circular said that there could be an increase in the number of traffic accidents due to severe weather conditions including, rain, snowfall, fog and icy roads. It noted that there were 10,091 traffic accidents in 2002 winter due to icy roads and recalled that 600 people died and 19,510 people were injured in accidents.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''STRATEGY PAPER PERCEIVED WRONG, CYPRUS IS NOT A PRECONDITION''
European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana said that Progress Report and Strategy Paper were perceived wrong in Turkey. Stating that there was not any change in Cyprus issue, Solana said that he wanted to give a very clear message to Turkish people and administration that there was not any change in Cyprus issue. Solana said that there was not any addition to Copenhagen criteria, either and stated that there was no need for concern over the issue and reaction to it. Solana, who replied to questions of Zaman after Turkey-EU Troika meeting held in Rome, said that solution of the Cyprus issue would bring benefits to Turkey, Cyprus and the EU.
FOREIGN MINISTER GUL SAYS EU WILL PUT PRESSURE ON GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE
The European Union (EU) gave a positive answer for the first time to Turkey's demand for putting pressure on Greek Cypriot side in Turkey-EU Troika meeting held in Rome on Tuesday. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul conveyed a message to EU representatives that they would launch a new initiative for a lasting peace in Cyprus after elections which will be held in TRNC in December. Gul earlier demanded that Greek Cypriot side should also be convinced to reach a solution on Cyprus issue till May 2004. Gul said that EU representatives gave message that they would extend support on this issue.
(BRC-EÖ) 12.11.2003